CN110325864B

CN110325864B - Automatic analyzer

Info

Publication number: CN110325864B
Application number: CN201880013159.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 斋藤佳明
Original assignee: Hitachi High Technologies Corp
Current assignee: Hitachi High Tech Corp
Priority date: 2017-02-22
Filing date: 2018-02-07
Publication date: 2023-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-07
Also published as: EP3588093A4; JPWO2018155190A1; WO2018155190A1; US20190383842A1; JP7075923B2; CN110325864A; EP3588093A1

Abstract

The disclosed device is provided with a control unit (130), wherein the control unit (130) is provided with: a determination unit (117) that determines whether or not calibration of the reagent to be introduced is necessary when the reagent ID reader/writer (115) recognizes the reagent; a request generation unit (119) that notifies the standard solution required for calibration when the determination unit (117) determines that calibration is required, and that generates a request for calibration when the input of the standard solution is detected; and a planning unit (120) that plans loading and calibration so that the calibration is performed as needed after the reagent is loaded into the reagent disk (110). Thus, an automatic analyzer capable of reducing the number of steps required by a user before a reagent can be used for measurement of a patient sample is provided.

Description

Automatic analyzer

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for performing qualitative and quantitative analyses of biological samples such as blood and urine.

Background

In order to provide an automatic analyzer capable of efficiently performing measurement, patent document 1 describes the following automatic analyzer: the computer has a first reagent disk on which reagent containers containing reagents used for reactions are placed, a second reagent disk, and a reagent container transfer mechanism for transferring reagent containers between the first reagent disk and the second reagent disk, wherein a determination unit and a drive control unit of the computer transfer the reagent containers set on the second reagent disk to the first reagent disk by the reagent container transfer mechanism, perform at least the quality control measurement of the calibration and the quality control measurement using the reagents held in the reagent containers transferred to the first reagent disk, and return the reagent containers to the second reagent disk by the reagent container transfer mechanism.

Documents of the prior art

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-217741

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

An automatic analyzer is an apparatus that performs measurement of a plurality of test object items by adding a reagent to a biological sample (hereinafter, also referred to as a specimen) such as blood or urine to perform a reaction. Therefore, a plurality of reagents are mounted on the automatic analyzer. In facilities where the number of tests per day is large, or facilities where the apparatus is operated for 24 hours all the time, if the reagent is insufficient, the apparatus needs to be stopped at any time and then the reagent needs to be replaced.

In response to such a problem, an automatic analyzer is known which includes hardware capable of introducing and discarding a reagent even during measurement, and which can add a new reagent without stopping the analyzer.

However, even if a new reagent is added, the measurement cannot be performed immediately using the reagent without an effective standard curve for the reagent. Therefore, it is necessary to create (calibrate) a standard curve, but in the case of measuring a sample, the reagent cannot be put in until the reagent dispensing in the current measurement is completely completed, and the user must wait until the reagent is put in, and then perform calibration.

In order to solve such a problem, patent document 1 describes that a standard solution necessary for calibration is mounted on a sample disk in advance, and after a reagent is transferred to the reagent disk, calibration is performed using the standard solution of the sample disk.

However, the method described in patent document 1 requires a sample disk, and has a problem that it is difficult to apply the method to a large-sized apparatus for measuring a sample mounted on a stage.

In addition, when the stage is used, it is also conceivable that the analyzer includes a buffer for allowing all necessary standard solutions and quality control samples to stand by. However, since the buffer is required to be capable of keeping the samples cold and the samples always occupy a part of the buffer, the buffer needs to be increased in size, which causes a new problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analyzer capable of quickly performing calibration of a registered reagent even when the reagent is registered in measurement, and reducing the number of steps in which the reagent can be used by a user before measurement of a patient sample.

Means for solving the problems

To solve the above problem, for example, the structure described in the claims is adopted.

The present invention includes a plurality of solutions to the above problems, and an example thereof is an automatic analyzer that dispenses a sample and a reagent into a reaction container, respectively, to perform a reaction, and measures a liquid after the reaction, the automatic analyzer including: a reagent disk on which a plurality of the reagents can be loaded; a reagent loader configured to load the reagent into the reagent tray; a first information acquisition unit that reads information on the reagent loaded into the automatic analyzer; a standard solution input port for calibration of the sample and the reagent; a second information acquisition unit that reads information on a standard solution necessary for calibration of the reagent injected from the injection port after the injection; a buffer that can change the dispensing order of the samples by making a plurality of the samples and the standard solution to be put on standby; and a control unit having a determination unit that determines whether or not calibration of the reagent to be introduced is necessary when the first information acquisition unit recognizes the reagent, a request generation unit that notifies the standard solution when the determination unit determines that calibration is necessary, and that generates a calibration request when the second information acquisition unit detects that the standard solution is introduced, and a planning unit that plans the introduction and the calibration such that the reagent requiring calibration is preferentially introduced into the reagent disk and then calibration is performed, and that another reagent not requiring calibration is introduced into the reagent disk after calibration.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, even when a reagent is to be registered in a measurement, since the calibration of the registered reagent can be performed quickly without increasing the size of the buffer, the number of steps required for a user to use the reagent before the measurement of a patient sample can be reduced. Problems, structures, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of examples.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a process flow for performing calibration of a standard solution relating to measurement as needed after registration of a reagent.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a scheduling unit that schedules transfer of a sample and registration of a reagent.

Fig. 4 is an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in the standard solution information display process.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen for setting sample dispensing conditions.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the planning unit.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen for performing control of another configuration of the planning unit shown in fig. 6.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of an automatic analyzer according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 7. First, the overall configuration of the automatic analyzer will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an automatic analyzer.

In the present embodiment, "reagent registration" is a general term for a series of processes of loading a reagent into an automatic analyzer, reading and registering information of the reagent, and loading the reagent into a reagent disk storing the reagent.

In fig. 1, an automatic analyzer is a device for dispensing a sample and a reagent into a reaction vessel to perform a reaction, and measuring a liquid after the reaction, and includes: a loading unit 101, an emergency gantry entrance 113, a gantry transportation line 102, a buffer 104, an analysis unit 105, a storage unit 103, a display unit 118, a control unit 130, and the like.

The loading unit 101 is a place where a sample rack 111 is provided, which houses a plurality of sample containers for storing biological samples such as blood and urine. The emergency rack input port 113 is a place for inputting a sample rack (calibration rack) on which a standard solution is loaded and a sample rack 111 accommodating sample containers containing specimens requiring emergency analysis into the analysis apparatus. The rack transport line 102 is a line for transporting the sample rack 111 provided in the loading unit 101. The buffer 104 holds the plurality of sample racks 111 conveyed by the rack conveyance line 102 so that the sample dispensing order in the sample racks 111 can be changed. The analysis unit 105 analyzes the sample transferred from the buffer 104 via the transfer line 106. The details of which will be described later. The storage unit 103 stores a sample rack 111 that stores sample containers holding samples that have been analyzed by the analysis unit 105.

The analysis unit 105 includes a transport line 106, a reaction disk 108, a sample dispensing nozzle 107, a reagent disk 110, a reagent dispensing nozzle 109, a cleaning mechanism 112, a reagent tray 114, a reagent ID reader/writer 115, a reagent loader 116, a spectrophotometer 121, and the like.

The transport line 106 is a line for transporting the sample stage 111 in the buffer 104 to the analysis unit 105. The reaction tray 108 includes a plurality of reaction containers. The sample dispensing nozzle 107 dispenses a sample from a sample container to a reaction container on the reaction disk 108 by rotational driving and vertical driving. The reagent tray 110 is provided with a plurality of reagents. The reagent dispensing nozzle 109 dispenses a reagent from a reagent bottle in the reagent disk 110 to a reaction cell in the reaction disk 108. The cleaning mechanism 112 cleans the reaction vessels of the reaction tray 108. The spectrophotometer 121 measures the absorbance of the reaction solution by measuring the transmitted light obtained from the reaction solution passing through the reaction vessel from a light source (not shown).

The reagent tray 114 is a member for setting a reagent when registering the reagent in the automatic analyzer. The reagent ID reader/writer 115 is a device for reading a reagent ID attached to a reagent set on the reagent tray 114 to obtain reagent information. In the automatic analyzer of the present embodiment, the reagent ID reader/writer 115 is disposed outside the reagent disk 110 and is not disposed inside the reagent disk 110. The reagent loader 116 is a device for loading reagents into the reagent disk 110.

The display unit 118 is a display device for displaying the analysis result of the concentration of a predetermined component in a liquid sample such as blood or urine. When it is determined that calibration is necessary as a result of the determination unit 117 in the control unit 130, which will be described later, the display unit 118 displays information on a necessary standard solution to the user.

The control unit 130 is composed of a computer or the like, and performs an arithmetic process for determining the concentration of a predetermined component in a sample such as blood or urine while controlling the operation of each mechanism in the automatic analyzer. The control unit 130 includes a determination unit 117, a request generation unit 119, and a planning unit 120.

When the reagent ID reader/writer 115 recognizes the reagent, the determination unit 117 determines whether or not calibration of the reagent to be introduced is necessary based on the reagent ID read by the reagent ID reader/writer 115, from the valid standard curve of whether or not the other reagent can be used.

When the determination unit 117 determines that calibration is necessary, the request generation unit 119 outputs a display signal to notify a standard solution necessary for calibration by a display unit 118 or the like described later, and generates an analysis request for calibration when a unit such as the sample stage ID reader/writer 102a provided in the stage transport line 102 recognizes that the user has set the standard solution in the apparatus.

After the reagent ID reader/writer 115 reads the reagent ID, the scheduling unit 120 schedules reagent registration by stopping scheduling dispensing of a new sample, receives an analysis request from the request generation unit 119, schedules the transfer of the standard solution into the analysis unit 105 beyond the stage stored in the buffer 104, schedules the transfer and calibration, and performs the calibration as needed after the reagent is transferred into the reagent disk 110. The details of which will be described later.

The above is the entire structure of the automatic analyzer.

The analysis process of the sample in the automatic analyzer as described above is generally performed in the following order.

First, the sample stage 111 is set in the loading unit 101 or the emergency-stage entrance 113, and is loaded into the buffer 104 that can be randomly accessed by the stage transport line 102.

The automatic analyzer carries the sample rack 111, which is stored in the rack of the buffer 104 and has the highest priority according to the priority rule, into the analyzer 105 by the transport line 106.

The sample stage 111 that has reached the analysis unit 105 is further moved by the transport line 106 to a sample distribution position near the reaction disk 108, and the sample is distributed to the reaction containers of the reaction disk 108 by the sample distribution nozzle 107. The sample dispensing nozzle 107 dispenses the sample a desired number of times in accordance with the analysis item requested for the sample.

The sample dispensing nozzle 107 dispenses samples to all the sample containers mounted on the sample stage 111. The sample stage 111, to which the dispensing process for all the sample containers has been completed, is transferred to the buffer 104 again. Then, the sample stage 111 including the automatic re-measurement and having completed the sample distribution processing is transferred to the storage unit 103 by the transfer line 106 and the stage transfer line 102.

Further, a reagent used for analysis is dispensed from a reagent bottle on the reagent disk 110 to a reaction container to which a sample has been previously dispensed by the reagent dispensing nozzle 109. Subsequently, the mixed solution of the sample and the reagent in the reaction container is stirred by a stirring mechanism (not shown).

Then, the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the reaction vessel containing the stirred mixture solution, and the luminosity of the transmitted light is measured by the spectrophotometer 121. The light intensity measured by the spectrophotometer 121 is sent to the control unit 130 via an a/D converter and an interface. Then, the control unit 130 calculates the concentration of a predetermined component in a liquid sample such as blood or urine, and displays the result on the display unit 118 or the like and stores the result in a storage unit (not shown).

In the automatic analyzer, when registering a reagent, the reagent ID reader/writer 115 reads the reagent ID of the reagent set on the reagent tray 114, and then the reagent loader 116 carries the reagent into the reagent tray 110.

An example of processing in the control unit 130 of the automatic analyzer until the measurement of the relevant standard solution after the reagent registration will be described below with reference to the flow shown in fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a process flow for performing calibration of a standard solution relating to measurement as needed after registration of a reagent.

First, the user presses a reagent registration button provided at a predetermined position in the display unit 118 or the automatic analyzer, and the control unit 130 moves the reagent tray 114 to a position where a reagent bottle can be set. After the user sets the reagent on the reagent tray 114, the user presses a reagent registration button provided in the display unit 118 or the automatic analyzer to instruct the start of the reagent registration, and the control unit 130 starts the reagent registration process.

When the reagent registration is started, the control unit 130 of the automatic analyzer moves the reagent on the reagent tray 114 to the position of the reagent ID reader/writer 115 and reads the reagent ID as a reagent ID reading process (step S201). If the reagent ID is abnormal, the subsequent process is not performed, and a warning is displayed on the display unit 118 or the like to end the process.

Next, as a sample dispensing stop process (step S202), the control unit 130 stops the dispensing schedule after the currently dispensed sample, and secures a time period for not operating the reagent disk 110.

Next, the control unit 130 performs a reagent registration planning process (step S203). The action of the reagent disk 110 is scheduled at a future time due to the measurements that have already been started. For example, when reagent dispensing is performed after a predetermined time of 6 minutes in the measurement that has been started before the sample dispensing stop process, since control of the reagent disk 110 is already reserved before 6 minutes, reagent registration cannot be performed. The reagent registration scheduling process step S203 is a process of reserving the operation of the reagent disk 110 in advance and registering the reagent after 6 minutes secured in the sample dispensing stop process step S202.

Next, as the calibration rejection determination process (step S204), the control unit 130 determines whether or not calibration is necessary based on the information of the reagent ID. For example, when a function is provided that enables the standard curve to be used when calibration is already performed on the same batch of reagents, calibration of the registered reagents is not necessary. The control unit 130 determines whether or not there is one or more reagents to be calibrated among the registered reagents based on the function. When it is determined that the calibration is necessary, the process proceeds to step S205, and when it is determined that the calibration is unnecessary, the process proceeds to step S209B.

The following first describes a case where the calibration necessity rejection determination processing step S204 determines that calibration is necessary, that is, a processing after the reagent tray 114 is provided with one or more reagents requiring calibration (after step S205).

Next, as the standard solution information display processing (step S205), the control unit 130 outputs a display signal so that all the information of the standard solution necessary for the reagent requiring calibration is displayed on the display unit 118. The details will be described later with reference to fig. 4.

Next, as the standard solution monitoring process (step S206), the control unit 130 monitors whether or not the user has input a required standard solution, and also monitors whether or not the analysis request has not been made. After the user sets the sample stage (calibration stage) loaded with the standard liquid at the loading unit 101 or the emergency stage input port 113, the user recognizes the ID by means of the sample stage ID reader/writer 102a or the like when passing through the stage transfer line 102, and the request generation unit 119 in the control unit 130 determines whether or not the required standard liquid is input by checking whether or not the ID completely matches the standard liquid displayed in the standard liquid information display processing step S205. If it is determined that the standard solution is introduced and the analysis request is not generated, the process proceeds to step S207. When it is determined that the standard solution is not input or the analysis request is generated, the process proceeds to step S209A.

When it is recognized that a necessary standard solution is input and an analysis request (calibration request) for the standard solution is not generated, the control unit 130 automatically generates an analysis request for each standard solution as an analysis request generation process (step S207).

Next, the control unit 130 performs a calibration stand conveyance process (step S208). The calibration stage transfer process step S208 is a process of transferring the calibration stage, which is recognized to be transferred in the standard solution monitoring process step S206, of the sample stages 111 waiting in the buffer 104, into the analyzer 105 with the highest priority. The calibration rack carried into the analysis unit 105 waits until the reagent registration is completed and the sample dispensing is restarted.

Next, as the reagent registration waiting process (step S209A), the control unit 130 determines whether or not the reagent registration time is the reagent registration time, waits for the reagent to be loaded into the reagent disk 110 until the time reserved in the reagent registration scheduling process step S203 is reached, and performs the reagent registration execution process and the calibration execution process step S210A when the time reserved is reached. If it is determined that the time is not the reagent registration time, the process returns to step S206.

Next, as the reagent registration execution process and the calibration execution process (step S210A), the control unit 130 carries all the reagents set on the reagent tray 114 into the reagent disk 110 by the reagent loader 116.

In addition, calibration is performed thereafter.

Even if the required standard solution is not input in the standard solution monitoring process step S206, it is preferable that the reagent registration standby process step S209A advances the process when the time scheduled by the reagent registration scheduling process step S203 is reached, and the reagent registration execution process and the calibration execution process step S210A are executed without waiting for the loading of the calibration rack. In this case, the calibration is naturally omitted in step S210A.

Then, the control unit 130 restarts the sample dispensing as a sample dispensing restart process (step S211), and then restarts the supply of another rack waiting in the buffer 104 as a sample supply restart process (step S212). By restarting the dispensing of the sample at this stage, the standard solution carried into the analyzer 105 by the calibration stand transfer processing step S208 can be analyzed after the registration of the reagent. In this sample dispensing restart processing step S211, the calibration rack having been dispensed is transferred to the storage unit 103, and the sample rack 111 waiting in the buffer 104 is restarted to be carried into the analysis unit 105.

In addition, if the automatic analyzer is provided with a plurality of sample racks 111 in the analyzer 105, the sample rack 111 waiting in the buffer 104 can be newly loaded after all the calibration racks loaded with the necessary standard solution are transferred to the analyzer 105 in the calibration rack transfer processing step S208.

Next, the following processing will be described when it is determined in the calibration necessity rejection processing step S204 that calibration is not necessary, that is, when all the reagents set in the reagent tray 114 do not need calibration.

In this case, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the reagent registration time is the reagent registration waiting time as the reagent registration waiting processing (step S209B), waits for the reagent to be loaded into the reagent disk 110 until the time reserved in the reagent registration scheduling processing step S203 is reached, and performs the reagent registration execution processing step S210B when the reserved time is reached. If it is determined that the time is not the reagent registration time, the process of step S209B is repeated until the reagent registration time is reached.

Next, as a reagent registration execution process (step S210B), the control unit 130 carries all the reagents set in the reagent tray 114 into the reagent disk 110 by the reagent loader 116, and the scheduling unit 120 executes the sample dispensing restart process step S211 and the sample supply restart process step S212 described above.

Next, the configuration of the planning unit for executing the control shown in fig. 2 and the flow of the processing thereof will be described with reference to fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the planning unit 120.

As shown in fig. 3, the scheduling unit 120 includes a rack transport scheduling unit 301, an analysis scheduling unit 302, and a reagent registration scheduling unit 303.

The rack transport scheduling unit 301 includes a rack supply schedule table 301a, manages information of the buffer 104 and the sample rack 111 in the analysis unit 105, and determines the sample rack 111 to be supplied to the analysis unit 105. As shown in fig. 3, in the stage transfer scheduling unit 301 of the present embodiment, when the calibration stage (stage No.70001 in fig. 3) loaded with the standard solution is loaded into the automatic analyzer, the priority of transfer is set to the highest level.

The analysis planning unit 302 includes: an analysis status table 302a for managing the status of sample dispensing to the sample on the sample rack 111 provided in the analysis unit 105; and a reagent disk control schedule table 302b for managing the status of the control schedule of the reagent disk 110. The analysis planning unit 302 instructs the sample dispensing nozzle 107 and the reagent disk 110 to dispense a sample and supply a reagent according to the plan.

When the reagent ID is read by the reagent ID reader/writer 115, the analysis planning unit 302 of the present embodiment temporarily stops the dispensing plan of the sample dispensed later than the sample of the rack ID50001, the sample ID10001, and the analysis ID0101 in the analysis condition table 302a of fig. 3 currently dispensed (the dispensing plan of the samples of the rack ID50001, the sample ID10001, and the analysis IDs 0102 and later in the analysis condition table 302a of fig. 3), and secures a time period for which the reagent disk 110 is not operated. Further, the analysis plan is reconstructed so that after the samples of the rack ID50001, sample ID10001 and analysis ID0101 in the reagent disk control plan table 302b are analyzed, the reagent of the reagent ID7003, \8230, and the registration of the reagent ID7016 are planned, and then the samples of the rack ID50001, sample ID10001 and analysis ID0102 and thereafter are analyzed.

The reagent registration scheduling unit 303 manages information on the reagents set in the reagent tray 114 based on the reagent registration schedule table 303a before completion of the reagent registration.

The processing by the planning unit 120 will be described below.

In the planning unit 120, in the reagent ID reading process step S201, the reagent registration planning unit 303 instructs the reagent tray 114 and the reagent ID reader/writer 115 to operate, and stores the read information of the reagent ID in the reagent registration planning table 303a. The information of the reagent ID is notified to the determination unit 117, and the start of reagent registration is notified to the analysis planning unit 302.

Next, the analysis planning unit 302 receives a notification from the reagent registration planning unit 303, and stops the new dispensing plan in the sample dispensing stop processing step S202. Fig. 3 shows an example in which the dispensing of the analysis ID0101 is completed and the dispensing of the analysis ID0102 is not performed. After the dispensing of the analysis ID0101 is completed, the analysis planning unit 302 reserves the supply of the reagent ID7001 used in the 100 th cycle in the reagent disk control schedule table 302b, but since the dispensing of the sample is scheduled to stop thereafter, the supply of the reagent is also stopped thereafter. By controlling the analysis scheduling unit 302 so as not to perform the next dispensing of the analysis ID0102, the control for the analysis of the reagent disk 110 is not performed after 101 cycles, and therefore the reagent disk control after 101 cycles can be released from the reagent disk control schedule table 302b.

Here, the cycle refers to the time required for the sample dispensing nozzle 107 to measure a dispensed sample at a time.

In the example of fig. 3, the control of stopping the sample dispensing after reading the reagent ID has been described, but the timing of stopping the sample dispensing is not limited to this, and the timing of stopping the sample dispensing may be stopped after all the analysis items set for the sample being read have been completed, or may be continued until all the dispensing of the sample stored in the same sample stage 111 as the sample stage 111 storing the sample being read has been completed, or may be continued until the dispensing of the sample between the same stage groups has been completed, or the timing of stopping the dispensing may be determined by the user. The stop timing can be determined by the user as described later with reference to fig. 5.

Next, in the reagent registration scheduling step S203, the analysis scheduling unit 302 receives information on the registered reagents from the reagent registration scheduling unit 303, calculates the number of cycles for controlling the reagent disk 110 for reagent registration from information such as the number of the registered reagents, and makes a reservation in the reagent disk control scheduling table 302b. For example, if 10 cycles are required to register one reagent, a section from 101 cycles to 150 cycles is reserved when 5 reagents are provided.

After the calibration rack on which the standard solution is set is stored in the buffer 104, the analysis planning unit 302 does not instruct the reagent disk 110 to supply the reagent until the start time of the reagent registration comes according to the reagent disk control schedule table 302b in the reagent registration waiting processing step S208.

In the example of fig. 3, since the 101 cycle is the start time of the reagent registration, when the analysis planning unit 302 reaches the 101 cycle, the registration reagent transfer request is made to the reagent registration planning unit 303 in the reagent registration execution process and calibration execution process step S210A and the reagent registration execution process step S210B.

The reagent registration planning unit 303 first instructs the reagent tray 114 to move the reagent at the tray position 1 to the position of the reagent loader 116, and notifies the analysis planning unit 302 of completion of reagent preparation when the movement is completed. The analysis planning unit 302 instructs the reagent loader 116 and the reagent disk 110 to perform reagent registration control. The reagent registration control is the following action: an empty position of the reagent disk 110 where the reagent can be set is moved to the reagent registration position, and the reagent on the reagent tray 114 is moved to the empty position of the reagent disk by the reagent loader 116.

When the reagent registration is completed, the analysis planning unit 302 notifies the reagent registration planning unit 303 of completion of the reagent registration, and updates the status of the reagent registration plan table 303a to completion of the registration. The reagent registration planning section 303 performs reagent registration until the status of all the reagents on the reagent tray 114 becomes registration completion.

After all the reagents have been registered, in the calibration rack transport process and calibration execution process step S210, the reagent registration scheduling unit 303 instructs the rack transport scheduling unit 301 to perform the calibration rack transport, and performs registration in the 101 to 150 cycles. At this time, the stage transport scheduling unit 301 transports the calibration stage into the analysis unit 105 in preference to all the sample stages 111 in the buffer 104. After the transfer, in the calibration stage transfer process and calibration execution process step S210, the reagent registration planning unit 303 instructs execution of calibration, and the calibration is executed in the 151-160 cycles. The calibration process of the analysis unit 105 is the same as that of an analysis unit of a general automatic analysis device, and the details thereof are omitted.

After the calibration of 160 cycles is completed, the reagent registration scheduling unit 303 restarts the stopped analysis ID0102 from the 161 th cycle.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 118 in step S205 of the standard solution information display processing.

When the calibration necessity rejection determination processing step S204 determines that calibration is necessary, the standard solution information display window 401 is displayed on the display unit 118.

The standard solution information display window 401 includes a standard solution information list 402, and displays the item name to be calibrated, the ID of the stage on which the standard solution is set, the position on the stage, the required amount, and the like. The standard solution information list 402 may also display the name of the standard solution and the ID of the standard solution.

The standard solution information display window 401 includes an ok (o.k) button 403, and is closed when the user presses down the window. Alternatively, the o.k button 403 may not be provided, and the window may be automatically closed when the calibrator set by the user is recognized. The standard solution information display window 401 includes a print button 404, and the contents of the standard solution information list 402 are printed by pressing.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a time setting change screen in the case where the time at which the sample dispensing is stopped is changed in the sample dispensing stop processing step S202.

The sample dispensing stop condition setting screen 501 displayed on the display unit 118 includes a time setting area 502, and when reagent registration is started during dispensing by the analyzer 105, the time at which sample dispensing is stopped can be set for each of the patient sample (normal), patient sample (emergency), standard solution, and quality control sample, which are the types of samples being dispensed. The time can be selected from, for example, between items, between samples, between racks, and between rack groups.

When the stop time is set to be between items, the analysis planning unit 302 stops dispensing after the reagent registration start time. When the sample is set to be between samples, the dispensing is stopped at the time when the dispensing of all the currently dispensed samples is completed. When the sample is between the racks, the dispensing is stopped at the time when all dispensing is completed for the sample rack 111 on which the currently dispensed sample is set. The rack group is a plurality of sample racks 111 intended to be continuously measured by the user in the standard solution and the quality control sample, and when the rack group is selected, the new dispensing is stopped after the dispensing of the plurality of calibration racks or the control racks simultaneously set by the user is completely completed.

With this configuration, for example, when the inter-gantry setting is performed for "patient sample (emergency)", the result report of the emergency sample is not delayed by the reagent registration being inserted, and when the analyzer is configured by a plurality of analyzers, the emergency sample is not bound to the analyzer that is in the reagent registration, and can be transferred to another analyzer, and the analysis plan can be flexibly executed.

The sample dispensing stop condition setting screen 501 includes an o.k button 503, and when the user presses it, sample dispensing stop control is executed in accordance with the selected time. Further, a cancel button 504 is provided and is selected when the end time setting is changed.

The selection unit for selecting the timing at which dispensing of a sample is stopped in order to load a reagent into the reagent disk 110 is configured by the timing setting area 502 and the o.k button 503.

Next, another configuration example of the planning unit 120 will be described with reference to fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the detailed configuration of the planning unit 120.

In another configuration of the planning unit 120 shown in fig. 6, a plan is made such that a reagent requiring calibration is loaded into the reagent disk 110 with priority, calibration is performed, and another reagent is loaded into the reagent disk 110 after calibration.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 6, the reagent registration planning unit 603 stores information on whether or not calibration is necessary in the reagent registration plan table 603a, and plans to register a reagent requiring calibration with priority. In the example of fig. 6, the reagent of reagent ID7005 among the reagents set in the reagent tray 114 needs calibration, and the other reagents do not need calibration.

In this case, the reagent registration planning section 603 notifies the analysis planning section 602 of the start of reagent registration for the reagent of the reagent ID7005,

the analysis planning unit 602 instructs the reagent loader 116 and the reagent disk 110 to perform reagent registration control, and plans the reagent supply operation for calibration of the loop 111 and the loop 112 in the reagent disk control schedule table 602b so that the calibration of the reagent ID7005 can be started after the control is completed. The analysis planning unit 602 also plans to perform registration of another reagent that does not require calibration after the reagent supply operation for calibration.

The rack supply schedule table 601a of the rack transport schedule unit 601 and the analysis condition table 602a of the analysis schedule unit 602 are configured substantially the same as the rack supply schedule table 301a of the rack transport schedule unit 301 and the analysis condition table 302a of the analysis schedule unit 302 shown in fig. 3, respectively.

In the case of the configuration shown in fig. 6 in which the reagent requiring calibration can be preferentially carried into the reagent disk 110 and calibration can be performed, a device for selecting whether or not the reagent requiring calibration is preferentially carried into and calibrated at the time of reagent registration may be provided. Hereinafter, the structure will be described with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for selecting whether or not to perform the priority loading and the calibration.

As shown in fig. 7, a priority loading execution selection screen 701 is displayed on the display unit 118. The priority loading execution selection screen 701 includes a check box 702 for selecting whether or not to load a reagent requiring calibration preferentially or perform calibration at the time of reagent registration, an o.k button 703, and a delete button 704. When a reagent requiring calibration is loaded and calibrated preferentially at the time of reagent registration, a check is made in the check box 702, and then the o.k button 703 is selected. If the priority loading is not performed, the check of the check box 702 is canceled. The selection unit for selecting whether or not to preferentially carry in the reagent requiring calibration and for calibration is constituted by a check box 702 and an o.k button 703.

Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described.

The automatic analyzer of the present invention described above is an automatic analyzer that dispenses a sample and a reagent into a reaction container, performs a reaction, and measures a liquid after the reaction, and includes: a reagent disk 110 on which a plurality of reagents can be loaded; a reagent loader 116 that carries a reagent into the reagent disk 110; a reagent ID reader/writer 115 that reads information on a reagent to be put into the automatic analyzer; a buffer 104 that can change the sample dispensing order by waiting for a plurality of samples; and a control unit 130 having a determination unit 117, a request generation unit 119, and a planning unit 120, wherein the determination unit 117 determines whether or not calibration of the reagent to be introduced is necessary when the reagent ID reader/writer 115 recognizes the reagent, the request generation unit 119 notifies a standard solution necessary for calibration when the determination unit 117 determines that calibration is necessary, and when the determination unit 117 detects that the standard solution is introduced, a request for calibration is made, and the planning unit 120 plans loading and calibration so that the reagent is loaded into the reagent disk 110 and then the calibration is performed as necessary.

With this configuration, since the time required to load the reagent into the reagent disk 110 can be ensured as early as possible, the reagent can be loaded as early as possible, and the calibration can be performed early. Therefore, the process before the calibration of the registered reagent can be performed more quickly than in the conventional case, and the number of steps for the user before the reagent can be used for the measurement of the patient sample can be reduced. In addition, there is an effect that it is not necessary to increase the size of the buffer.

Further, since the planning unit 120 of the control unit 130 stops the sample dispensing plan when the reagent ID reader/writer 115 recognizes the reagent, and creates a plan for carrying in and calibration of the reagent to the reagent disk 110 after the stopped dispensing plan, it is possible to secure a time for carrying in and calibration to the reagent disk 110 when the registration of the reagent is started, and it is possible to perform the pre-calibration process more quickly. In addition, the required work can be completed without waiting for completion of the reagent registration, and the number of steps for the user can be further reduced.

Further, by providing the display unit 118 for displaying the information on the necessary standard solution for notifying the user of the standard solution, the user can easily grasp the standard solution necessary for calibration, and can quickly load the device, thereby further reducing the time required until the reagent can be used. In addition, the number of steps for the user can be further reduced.

Further, the reagent disk 110 includes a time setting area 502 for selecting a time at which dispensing of a sample is stopped in order to carry a reagent into the reagent disk and an o.k button 503. With this configuration, for example, in the case where the inter-gantry setting is performed for "patient sample (emergency)", the report of the result of the emergency sample is not delayed by the reagent registration insertion, and in the case where the analyzer is configured by a plurality of analyzers, the emergency sample can be transferred to another analyzer without being bound to the analyzer in the reagent registration, and the burden on the user can be reduced.

The scheduling unit 120 performs scheduling so that a reagent requiring calibration is preferentially carried into the reagent disk 110, performs calibration, and then carries another reagent into the reagent disk 110 after calibration. In general, a certain time is required from the execution of calibration to the actual use of a reagent because it takes time to create a calibration curve or the like. Therefore, by carrying in the reagent requiring calibration to the reagent disk 110 in priority to the reagent not requiring calibration and performing calibration, the reagent requiring calibration can be registered in priority, and the calibration curve can be created more quickly.

Further, a check box 702 and an o.k button 703 for selecting whether or not to perform preferential loading and calibration of a reagent requiring calibration are provided, whereby the apparatus can be flexibly operated.

Further, the reagent ID reader/writer 115 is disposed outside the reagent disk 110 and not disposed inside the reagent disk 110, thereby simplifying the structure of the reagent disk 110.

Other

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications can be made. The above-described embodiments are described in detail to explain the present invention easily and understandably, and are not limited to all the configurations described.

For example, the control of the control unit 130 of the present invention can be applied to the quality control sample in the same manner as in the case of automatic analysis including a function of receiving a standard curve measured before the registration of a reagent and using the received standard curve as long as the measurement result of the quality control sample is within a predetermined range, in addition to the standard solution.

The sample rack 111 may be applied to a rack (one rack) on which only one sample container is mounted, for example, instead of mounting a plurality of sample containers.

Description of the symbols

101-a loading section, 102-a rack transfer line, 102 a-a reader/writer, 103-a storage section, 104-a buffer, 105-an analysis section, 106-a transfer line, 107-a sample dispensing nozzle, 108-a reaction disk, 109-a reagent dispensing nozzle, 110-a reagent disk, 111-a sample rack, 112-a cleaning mechanism, 113-an emergency rack input port, 114-a reagent tray, 115-a reagent ID reader/writer, 116-a reagent loader, 117-a determination section, 118-a display section, 119-a request generation section, 120-a planning section, 121-a spectrophotometer, 130-a control section, 301, 601-a rack transport scheduling unit, 301a, 601 a-a rack supply scheduling table, 302, 602-an analysis scheduling unit, 302a, 602 a-an analysis status table, 302b, 602 b-a reagent disk control scheduling table, 303, 603-a reagent registration scheduling unit, 303a, 603 a-a reagent registration scheduling table, 401-a standard solution information display window, 402-a standard solution information list, 403, 503, 703-o.k button, 404-print button, 501-sample dispensing stop condition setting screen, 502-time setting area, 504, 704-cancel button, 701-priority loading execution selection screen, and 702-check box.

Claims

1. An automatic analyzer for dispensing a sample and a reagent into a reaction vessel to perform a reaction, and measuring a liquid after the reaction, the automatic analyzer being characterized in that,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a reagent disk on which a plurality of the reagents can be loaded;

a reagent loader configured to load the reagent into the reagent tray;

a first information acquisition unit that reads information on the reagent put into the automatic analyzer;

a standard solution input port for calibration of the sample and the reagent;

a second information acquisition unit that reads information on a standard solution necessary for calibration of the reagent that is introduced from the introduction port after introduction;

a buffer that can change the dispensing order of the samples by making a plurality of the samples and the standard solution to be put on standby; and

a control unit having a determination unit that determines whether or not calibration of the reagent to be put is necessary when the first information acquisition unit recognizes that the reagent is necessary, a request generation unit that notifies the standard solution when the determination unit determines that calibration is necessary, and that creates a calibration request when the second information acquisition unit detects that the standard solution is put, a scheduling unit that performs calibration after the reagent to be calibrated is preferentially loaded into the reagent disk, and schedules the loading and the calibration so that another reagent not requiring calibration is loaded into the reagent disk after the calibration,

the apparatus further comprises a selection unit for selecting whether or not to perform preferential loading and calibration of the reagent requiring the calibration.

2. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

the scheduling unit of the control unit stops the sample dispensing schedule when the first information acquiring unit recognizes a reagent, and creates a schedule for carrying the reagent into the reagent disk and for performing the calibration before the stopped dispensing schedule.

3. The automatic analysis device according to claim 2,

the apparatus further includes a display unit for displaying information on the required standard solution in order to notify the user of the standard solution.

4. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

the reagent disk drive device further includes a selection unit for selecting a timing at which dispensing of the sample is stopped in order to carry the reagent into the reagent disk.

5. The automatic analysis device according to claim 1,

the first information acquiring unit is disposed outside the reagent disk but not within the reagent disk.